Phrasal Prepositions: Mastering Complex English Prepositions

Phrasal prepositions, combinations of two or three words functioning as a single preposition, are crucial for mastering English grammar. They add nuance and precision to your sentences, enabling you to express complex relationships between elements.

Understanding and using phrasal prepositions correctly will significantly enhance your communication skills, making your writing and speech more accurate and fluent. This guide is perfect for English language learners, students, and anyone looking to refine their grasp of English grammar.

By exploring definitions, structures, examples, usage rules, and common mistakes, you’ll gain the confidence to use phrasal prepositions effectively.

Definition of Phrasal Prepositions

A phrasal preposition is a multi-word unit that functions as a single preposition. It typically consists of a preposition combined with one or two other words, often adverbs or adjectives.

These combinations create a unique prepositional meaning that cannot be derived from the individual words alone. Phrasal prepositions indicate relationships such as location, time, direction, cause, purpose, and manner.

Classification and Function

Phrasal prepositions are classified as prepositions because they perform the same grammatical function: connecting a noun or pronoun (the object of the preposition) to the rest of the sentence. They provide essential context and detail, clarifying the relationship between different elements within the sentence.

Without phrasal prepositions, expressing precise meanings would be significantly more difficult.

Contexts of Use

Phrasal prepositions are used in a wide variety of contexts, from formal writing to everyday conversation. They are essential in academic writing, business communication, and creative writing.

Understanding their nuances is critical for effective communication in any setting. They are especially useful when more detailed or specific information is needed compared to what a single-word preposition can provide.

Structural Breakdown

The structure of a phrasal preposition typically involves a preposition combined with one or two other words, usually adverbs or adjectives. The most common patterns are: preposition + noun, adverb + preposition, and preposition + noun + preposition. Understanding these structural patterns helps in recognizing and using phrasal prepositions correctly.

Common Patterns

Understanding the common patterns of phrasal prepositions helps in recognizing and using them correctly. The most frequent structures are outlined below:

Preposition + Noun + Preposition: in front of, in spite of, on behalf of
Adverb + Preposition: according to, owing to, due to
Preposition + Adjective + Preposition: by means of, for fear of

Identifying Components

To identify the components of a phrasal preposition, break it down into its individual words and analyze their roles. Recognize the prepositional element and the modifying words that contribute to the overall meaning.

This analysis will improve your understanding and usage of these complex structures.

Types and Categories

Phrasal prepositions can be categorized based on the relationships they express. Common categories include location, time, cause, purpose, manner, and possession.

Recognizing these categories helps in selecting the appropriate phrasal preposition for a specific context.

Location

Phrasal prepositions indicating location specify the position or place of something. These are essential for providing spatial context in descriptions and narratives.

Time

Phrasal prepositions indicating time specify when something occurs or its duration. They are crucial for establishing temporal relationships in sentences.

Cause and Reason

Phrasal prepositions indicating cause or reason explain why something happens. They are important for providing explanations and justifications.

Purpose and Intention

Phrasal prepositions indicating purpose or intention explain the goal or aim of an action. They are useful for clarifying motivations and objectives.

Manner

Phrasal prepositions indicating manner describe how something is done. They add detail and nuance to descriptions of actions.

Examples of Phrasal Prepositions

Understanding phrasal prepositions requires seeing them in context. The following tables provide examples of phrasal prepositions categorized by their function, along with example sentences.

Examples Indicating Location

The following table provides examples of phrasal prepositions that indicate location.

Phrasal Preposition	Example Sentence
in front of	The car is parked in front of the house.
behind	The cat is hiding behind the sofa.
next to	The bank is located next to the post office.
near to	The park is near to my home.
on top of	The book is on top of the desk.
underneath	The cat is sleeping underneath the table.
inside of	There are toys inside of the box.
outside of	The children are playing outside of the house.
across from	The library is located across from the school.
along with	She brought her friend along with her to the party.
away from	Keep the chemicals away from children.
close to	The store is close to the train station.
far from	The beach is far from the city center.
in the middle of	The island is located in the middle of the ocean.
on the edge of	The city is located on the edge of the forest.
at the corner of	The accident happened at the corner of Main Street and Elm Street.
by the side of	They walked by the side of the river.
in the vicinity of	The suspect was seen in the vicinity of the crime scene.
adjacent to	The new building is adjacent to the old one.
in relation to	The second building is located in relation to the first.

Examples Indicating Time

The following table provides examples of phrasal prepositions that indicate time.

Phrasal Preposition	Example Sentence
prior to	Prior to the meeting, please review the agenda.
subsequent to	Subsequent to the storm, the roads were closed.
up to	Up to now, everything has gone according to plan.
as of	As of today, the project is complete.
in accordance with	The meeting will be held in accordance with the schedule.
ahead of	We finished the project ahead of schedule.
on account of	The game was cancelled on account of the rain.
in the course of	In the course of the investigation, new evidence was discovered.
in the duration of	The movie lasted in the duration of three hours.
in the meantime	In the meantime, let’s prepare the presentation.
in the process of	The company is in the process of restructuring.
until the end of	The sale will continue until the end of the month.
at the start of	At the start of the year, we set new goals.
by the time	By the time we arrived, the show had already started.
during the period of	During the period of renovation, the museum will be closed.
from the beginning of	From the beginning of the project, we faced challenges.
since the start of	Since the start of the program, we have seen improvements.
throughout the duration of	Throughout the duration of the course, students will learn valuable skills.
within the timeframe of	The project must be completed within the timeframe of six months.
following on from	Following on from the success of the first event, we planned a second.

Examples Indicating Cause and Reason

The following table provides examples of phrasal prepositions that indicate cause and reason.

Phrasal Preposition	Example Sentence
because of	The game was cancelled because of the rain.
due to	The delay was due to a technical issue.
owing to	Owing to the traffic, we were late.
on account of	She couldn’t attend on account of illness.
for the sake of	He worked hard for the sake of his family.
by reason of	By reason of his experience, he was promoted.
for the purpose of	The meeting was held for the purpose of discussing the budget.
in view of	In view of the circumstances, we decided to postpone the event.
as a result of	As a result of the accident, he was injured.
on the grounds of	The decision was made on the grounds of safety.
in consequence of	In consequence of his actions, he faced disciplinary measures.
for fear of	He didn’t speak up for fear of being ridiculed.
in light of	In light of the new evidence, the case was reopened.
motivated by	He was motivated by a desire to help others.
prompted by	The investigation was prompted by the anonymous tip.
driven by	She was driven by ambition to succeed.
inspired by	The artist was inspired by nature.
on the basis of	The selection was made on the basis of merit.
attributable to	The success is attributable to hard work.
resulting from	The damage resulting from the fire was extensive.

Examples Indicating Purpose and Intention

The following table provides examples of phrasal prepositions that indicate purpose and intention.

Phrasal Preposition	Example Sentence
in order to	He studies hard in order to pass the exam.
so as to	She arrived early so as to get a good seat.
with a view to	They invested with a view to making a profit.
for the purpose of	The funds were raised for the purpose of building a new school.
with the intention of	He went to the meeting with the intention of resolving the issue.
in an effort to	The company launched a campaign in an effort to improve its image.
aimed at	The program is aimed at helping underprivileged children.
designed to	The software is designed to simplify the process.
geared towards	The training is geared towards improving skills.
with the goal of	They worked with the goal of achieving success.
in the hope of	She applied in the hope of getting the job.
for the sake of	He made sacrifices for the sake of his children.
with the aim of	The project was started with the aim of improving efficiency.
intended to	The movie is intended to entertain audiences.
meant to	The gift was meant to show appreciation.
with a mind to	He saved money with a mind to buying a house.
calculated to	The strategy was calculated to increase sales.
in anticipation of	They prepared in anticipation of a large crowd.
with the objective of	The research was conducted with the objective of finding a cure.
in pursuit of	She traveled the world in pursuit of her dreams.

Usage Rules

Using phrasal prepositions correctly involves understanding their specific meanings and grammatical constraints. Pay attention to the context, the object of the preposition, and any specific rules associated with each phrasal preposition.

Agreement and Context

Ensure that the phrasal preposition fits the context of the sentence and agrees with the intended meaning. Consider the relationship you want to express and choose the phrasal preposition that best conveys that relationship.

Object of the Preposition

The object of a phrasal preposition can be a noun, pronoun, or gerund. Ensure that the object is grammatically correct and logically connected to the rest of the sentence.

Common Errors to Avoid

Avoid using phrasal prepositions interchangeably if they have different meanings. Also, be careful not to separate the parts of the phrasal preposition, as this can change the meaning or make the sentence grammatically incorrect.

Common Mistakes

One common mistake is using single-word prepositions instead of phrasal prepositions when a more precise meaning is required. Another error is misinterpreting the meaning of the phrasal preposition, leading to incorrect usage.

Additionally, separating a phrasal preposition can lead to confusion. Recognizing and correcting these errors will improve your accuracy.

Incorrect vs. Correct Examples

Understanding how to correct common mistakes can greatly improve your grammar. Here are some examples:

Incorrect	Correct	Explanation
He did it because the rain.	He did it because of the rain.	“Because” is a conjunction; “because of” is a phrasal preposition.
She arrived prior the meeting.	She arrived prior to the meeting.	“Prior” needs “to” to function as a phrasal preposition.
The book is on top.	The book is on top of the desk.	“On top” needs “of” to specify what it’s on top of.
He is accordance with the rules.	He is in accordance with the rules.	The phrasal preposition is “in accordance with.”
Due the weather, we stayed home.	Due to the weather, we stayed home.	“Due” needs “to” to function correctly.
He acted respect of his parents.	He acted in respect of his parents.	The correct phrase is “in respect of.”
She did it sake of her children.	She did it for the sake of her children.	The correct phrase is “for the sake of.”
The meeting is half of the hour.	The meeting is in half an hour.	Use the idiom “in half an hour.”
He came account the rain.	He came on account of the rain.	The correct phrase is “on account of.”
The car is front of the house.	The car is in front of the house.	The correct phrase is “in front of.”

Practice Exercises

These exercises will help you practice using phrasal prepositions correctly. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate phrasal preposition from the provided list.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the following sentences using the phrasal prepositions provided in the box.

Phrasal prepositions: in front of, because of, according to, in spite of, due to

Question	Answer
1. The concert was cancelled _______ the weather.	1. because of
2. _______ the rain, we still went for a walk.	2. In spite of
3. The accident was _______ a mechanical failure.	3. due to
4. The car is parked _______ the store.	4. in front of
5. _______ the report, the company is doing well.	5. According to
6. He succeeded _______ his hard work.	6. because of
7. _______ the traffic, we arrived late.	7. due to
8. _______ the noise, she couldn’t sleep.	8. Because of
9. _______ their differences, they remained friends.	9. In spite of
10. The meeting is held _______ the guidelines.	10. according to

Exercise 2: Correct the Sentences

Identify and correct the errors in the following sentences. Some sentences may be correct.

Question	Answer
1. He did it because the money.	1. He did it because of the money.
2. She arrived prior the meeting.	2. She arrived prior to the meeting.
3. The book is on top.	3. The book is on top of the desk.
4. He is accordance with the rules.	4. He is in accordance with the rules.
5. Due the weather, we stayed home.	5. Due to the weather, we stayed home.
6. She succeeded because her hard work.	6. She succeeded because of her hard work.
7. Correct	7. In spite of the challenges, they persevered.
8. She acted respect of her parents.	8. She acted in respect of her parents.
9. She did it sake of her children.	9. She did it for the sake of her children.
10. He came account the rain.	10. He came on account of the rain.

Exercise 3: Sentence Completion

Complete the following sentences with a suitable phrasal preposition. Consider the context of each sentence carefully.

Question	Answer
1. The project was completed _______ schedule.	1. ahead of
2. The decision was made _______ the safety concerns.	2. on the grounds of
3. She invested _______ making a profit.	3. with a view to
4. He saved money _______ buying a house.	4. with a mind to
5. The funds were raised _______ building a new school.	5. for the purpose of
6. They prepared _______ a large crowd.	6. in anticipation of
7. The damage _______ the fire was extensive.	7. resulting from
8. He studies hard _______ pass the exam.	8. in order to
9. The company is _______ restructuring.	9. in the process of
10. The island is located _______ the ocean.	10. in the middle of

Advanced Topics

For advanced learners, it’s important to understand the subtle nuances and less common usages of phrasal prepositions. This includes recognizing idiomatic expressions and understanding how phrasal prepositions can interact with other grammatical structures.

Idiomatic Expressions

Phrasal prepositions often form part of idiomatic expressions, where the meaning is not immediately obvious from the individual words. Learning these expressions requires exposure and practice.

Interaction with Other Structures

Phrasal prepositions can interact with other grammatical structures, such as relative clauses and participial phrases. Understanding these interactions allows for more complex and nuanced sentence construction.

Regional Variations

In some cases, the use of certain phrasal prepositions can vary by region or dialect. Being aware of these variations can help you understand and communicate effectively with speakers from different backgrounds.

FAQ

Here are some frequently asked questions about phrasal prepositions.

1. What is the difference between a prepositional phrase and a phrasal preposition?: A prepositional phrase is a phrase that begins with a preposition and includes its object (a noun or pronoun). It functions adjectivally or adverbially. A phrasal preposition, on the other hand, *is* the preposition itself – a multi-word unit that functions as a single preposition (e.g., “in front of”). It still requires an object to form a prepositional phrase, but the phrasal preposition *is* the prepositional element.
2. Can a phrasal preposition be separated by other words?: Generally, no. Separating the components of a phrasal preposition disrupts its meaning and grammatical correctness. The words work together as a single unit and should not be split. For example, “in spite of” should always remain together.
3. How can I improve my understanding of phrasal prepositions?: The best way to improve your understanding is through extensive reading and listening. Pay attention to how native speakers use phrasal prepositions in different contexts. Practice using them in your own writing and speaking, and seek feedback from teachers or language partners.
4. Are there any resources that can help me learn more about phrasal prepositions?: Yes, there are many resources available. Grammar textbooks, online grammar guides, and language learning apps often have sections dedicated to phrasal prepositions. Additionally, reading authentic English texts, such as novels and newspapers, will expose you to a wide range of examples.
5. How do I choose the correct phrasal preposition?: Choosing the correct phrasal preposition depends on the specific meaning you want to convey. Consider the relationship you want to express (location, time, cause, purpose, etc.) and select the phrasal preposition that best fits that relationship. Using a dictionary or thesaurus can also help you find the appropriate word.
6. Is it always necessary to use a phrasal preposition instead of a single-word preposition?: No, it is not always necessary. Single-word prepositions are often sufficient. However, phrasal prepositions can provide more nuance and precision, allowing you to express more complex relationships. Choose the option that best conveys your intended meaning.
7. Why are phrasal prepositions so difficult to learn?: Phrasal prepositions can be difficult because their meanings are not always predictable from the individual words. They often have idiomatic meanings that must be memorized. Additionally, the subtle differences between similar phrasal prepositions can be challenging to grasp.
8. Can the same word be part of different phrasal prepositions with different meanings?: Yes, the same word can appear in different phrasal prepositions with varying meanings. For example, “on” is part of “on account of” (meaning because of) and “on top of” (meaning above). Understanding the context is crucial for interpreting the meaning correctly.
9. Are phrasal prepositions more common in spoken or written English?: Phrasal prepositions are common in both spoken and written English. However, they might appear more frequently in informal spoken English, while more formal written English might lean towards single-word prepositions for conciseness.
10. How do I know when to use “in spite of” versus “despite”?: “In spite of” and “despite” have very similar meanings (meaning ‘regardless of’ or ‘not being affected by’). The key difference is that “in spite of” is a phrasal preposition and requires the preposition “of,” while “despite” is a single-word preposition. Thus, both are interchangeable, but the grammatical construction is different. For example, “In spite of the rain, we went for a walk.” is the same as “Despite the rain, we went for a walk.”

Conclusion

Mastering phrasal prepositions is crucial for achieving fluency and accuracy in English. By understanding their structure, types, and usage rules, you can significantly enhance your communication skills.

Remember to pay attention to context, avoid common mistakes, and practice regularly. With consistent effort, you’ll be able to use phrasal prepositions confidently and effectively.

Continue to expand your vocabulary and grammar knowledge by reading widely, listening to native speakers, and seeking feedback on your own writing and speaking. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes – they are a natural part of the learning process.

Embrace the challenge and enjoy the journey of mastering the English language.